[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 50 (Wednesday, March 17, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14623-14624]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-05496]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC21-5-000]


Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-725HH); 
Comment Request; Extension

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice of information collection and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or 
FERC) is inviting public comments on the currently approved information 
collection FERC-725HH (RF Reliability Standards).

DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due April 16, 
2021.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on FERC-725HH to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) through www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain, 
Attention: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Desk Officer. Please 
identify the OMB control number (1902-0301) in the subject line. Your 
comments should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice in 
the Federal Register.
    Please submit copies of your comments to the Commission (identified 
by Docket No. IC21-5-000) by any of the following methods:
     eFiling at Commission's Website: http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp.
     U.S. Postal Service Mail: Persons unable to file 
electronically may mail similar pleadings to the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426.
     Effective July 1, 2020, delivery of filings other than by 
eFiling or the U.S. Postal Service should be delivered to Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 
20852.

Instructions

    OMB submissions must be formatted and filed in accordance with 
submission guidelines at www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain; Using the 
search function under the ``Currently Under Review field,'' select 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; click ``submit'' and select 
``comment'' to the right of the subject collection.
    FERC submissions must be formatted and filed in accordance with 
submission guidelines at: http://www.ferc.gov. For user assistance, 
contact FERC Online Support by email at [email protected], or 
by phone at: (866) 208-3676 (toll-free).
    Docket: Users interested in receiving automatic notification of 
activity in this docket or in viewing/downloading comments and 
issuances in this docket may do so at http://www.ferc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Brown may be reached by email at 
[email protected] and telephone at (202) 502-8663.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: FERC-725HH, RF Reliability Standards.
    OMB Control No.: 1902-0301.
    Type of Request: Three-year renewal of FERC-725HH.
    Abstract: This collection of information pertains to the 
Commission's compliance with section 215 of the Federal Power Act (FPA) 
(16 U.S.C. 824o), which enables the Commission to strengthen the 
reliability of the ``bulk-power system.'' \1\ The Commission's 
implementation of FPA section 215 involves review and approval of a 
system of mandatory Reliability Standards that are established and 
enforced by an ``Electric Reliability Organization'' (ERO).\2\ The

[[Page 14624]]

Commission has certified the North American Electric Reliability 
Corporation (NERC) as the ERO.\3\
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    \1\ FPA section 251(a)(1) defines ``bulk-power system'' as 
follows: ``(A) facilities and control systems necessary for 
operating an interconnected electric energy transmission network (or 
any portion thereof); and (B) electric energy from generation 
facilities needed to maintain transmission system reliability. The 
term does not include facilities used in the local distribution of 
electric energy.''
    \2\ FPA section 215(a)(2) defines ``Electric Reliability 
Organization'' as ``the organization certified by the Commission 
under subsection (c) the purpose of which is to establish and 
enforce reliability standards for the bulk-power system, subject to 
Commission review.''
    \3\ North American Electric Reliability Corp., 116 FERC ] 61,062 
(ERO Certification Order), order on reh'g & compliance, 117 FERC ] 
61,126 (2006), aff'd sub nom. Alcoa, Inc. v. FERC, 564 F.3d 1342 
(D.C. Cir. 2009).
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    Reliability Standards that the ERO proposes to the Commission may 
include Reliability Standards that are proposed to the ERO by a 
Regional Entity.\4\ A Regional Entity is an entity that has been 
approved by the Commission to enforce Reliability Standards under 
delegated authority from the ERO.\5\ On March 17, 2011, the Commission 
approved a regional Reliability Standard submitted by the ERO that was 
developed by the ReliabilityFirst Corporation (RF).\6\
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    \4\ 16 U.S.C. 824o(e)(4).
    \5\ 16 U.S.C. 824o(a)(7) and (e)(4).
    \6\ Planning Resource Adequacy Assessment Reliability Standard, 
Order No. 747, 134 FERC ] 61,212 (2011).
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    RF promotes bulk electric system reliability in the Eastern 
Interconnection. RF is the Regional Entity responsible for compliance 
monitoring and enforcement in the RF region. In addition, RF provides 
an environment for the development of Reliability Standards and the 
coordination of the operating and planning activities of its members as 
set forth in the RF bylaws.
    There is one regional Reliability Standard in the RF region. The 
Commission requests renewal of OMB clearance for that regional 
Reliability Standard, known as BAL-502-RF-03 (Planning Resource 
Adequacy Analysis, Assessment and Documentation).
    On December 7, 2020, the Commission published a notice in the 
Federal Register inviting public comments on this information 
collection for 60 days. The Commission received no comments in 
response.
    Type of Respondents: Planning coordinators.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: \7\ The estimated burden and cost \8\ 
are as follows:
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    \7\ Burden is defined as the total time, effort, or financial 
resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, or 
disclose or provide information to or for a Federal agency. For 
further explanation of what is included in the information 
collection burden, refer to 5 CFR 1320.3.
    \8\ The hourly cost ($77.72 for salary plus benefits) is the 
average of mean hourly salaries and benefits for the following 
occupations:
     Manager (Occupation Code 11-0000): $94.84/hour
     Engineern (Occupation Code 17-2071): $85.71/hour
     File Clerk (Occupation Code 43-4071): $52.60/hour
    Salary and benefits data are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics 
at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm (salaries) and http://www.bls.gov/news.releases/ecee.nr0.htm (benefits).
    \9\ The number of respondents is derived from the NERC 
Compliance Registry as of October 2, 2020 for the burden associated 
with the proposed regional Reliability Standard BAL-502-RF-03.

                                                          FERC-725HH, RF Reliability Standards
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                                          Number of     Annual number                                              Total annual burden
                Entity                   respondents    of responses    Annual number   Average burden hours &     hours & total annual      Cost per
                                             \9\       per respondent   of responses     cost per response ($)           cost ($)         respondent ($)
                                                  (1)             (2)     (1) * (2) =  (4).....................  (3) * (4) = (5)........     (5) / (1) =
                                                                                  (3)                                                                (6)
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Planning Coordinators................               2               1               2  16 hrs.; $1,243.52......  32 hrs.; $2,487.04.....       $1,243.52
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    Comments: Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the Commission, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden and 
cost of the collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information collection; and (4) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.

    Dated: March 11, 2021.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-05496 Filed 3-16-21; 8:45 am]
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